Your exploration of the art and craft of poster design and program design will happen concurrently with the course's theoretical unit in costume design. It is impossible to coordinate separate deadlines for the two projects as the demands of mounting a production has differing deadlines depending on the area of responsibility. Scene Design deadlines tend to happen at the beginning of the process. Property Design work happen during the rehearsal. Costume Design deadlines happen toward the end as characters develop through the rehearsal process. Poster and Program Designs fall at a time appropriate for advertisement and the like. You may find you will have an assignment in the theoretical costume unit due at the same time a Matchbox design deadline is due. I will provide ample time in class to work on the costume unit. With careful time management, you should be able to meet your deadlines.

Depending on the size of the class, we may divide the poster and program responsibilities between two people.

There may be two posters and perhaps two program designers for the MATCHBOX THEATRE Production, one for each Act. Each designer may be assigned three scenes from Mr. Razavi's play. In collaboration with Mr. Razavi and Professor Gilliam as well as the other designers assigned to your company, you will design a poster and program for your production. You will need to collaborate with the other designer to come up with a unified approach. I have examples and will supply information and guidelines. You will need to execute your work in Photoshop, Pagemaker or alternative software. Also, you will assist in designing the tickets and other graphics necessary to promote this production.

In addition to the graphic art work, the poster and program designers will serve as the lobby designers and if necesssary the scenic artists. You may paint whatever scenery is necessary in collaboration with the scenic designers. As lobby designers, you will work on a collaborative design. The centerpiece of the lobby design will be 6 metaphoric sculpture representing the spirit or message of each play. You are to design and execute metaphor studies for your productions.

Specific Design Area Responsibilities
(Subject to Announced Changes)

Poster & Program Designers, Lobby & Scenic Artists

Preliminary Poster Design. After reading the script, attending the director/designer concept meeting, the initial read-thru of the play, and meeting with other designers, you are to develop a preliminary poster design for your three scenes. This will need to be a companion poster for a second poster done by the other designer assigned to this area. Willy and I will make suggestion for revisions.

Final Poster Design to Printers. You will complete the necessary revision to provide a finished poster to Kinkos with a photo ready print for duplication. Check with Kinkos on the format they will need and how long it will take them to execute the posters.

Lobby Idea Presentations. Based on your knowledge of the play and by observing at least one rehearsal, you are to design a metaphoric sculpture which represents you production. These will ultimately become part of the lobby design. You are to submit a preliminary designs which may be a sketches or written descriptions of what you intend to do. I will share these with Willy for feedback. Once you are given approval of your ideas, you may begin working on the sculptures which are due by Final Dress.

You will need to work with the other poster/program design to present a unified lobby design.

Program Information . You will receive bio information from all the students in 1304 and 2310 assigned to your program. It is your responsibility to obtain bio information from the designers working on your act as well as director's notes and the such.

Preliminary Programs. Working with the other program designer, you are to submit for review a hard copy of what you anticipate to be the final program. I will review the same for suggestions and possible changes. I will e-mail you changes.

Final Program to Printer. The final photo ready copy of the program is due for Kinkos.

Paint Notes Completed and Ready for Audience. As many of you know, the purpose of TECH Rehearsals is to integrate the scenery, lighting, properties, sound and backstage activities with the actors on stage. This is a time when the production works on cues and timing. You will need to attend at least one TECH Rehearsal and take notes to fix painted items which either do not work or can be improved. You should complete all your notes by the Final Dress Rehearsal.

Public Performance. You need to attend at least two performances, one each day. You will need to reflect on the use of your design in a real performance with an audience. You will note that there are no two performances ever the same. The audiences makes a big difference.